A Comprehensive Guide of How to Record Screen on iPhone 2026

A Comprehensive Guide of How to Record Screen on iPhone 2026

There are multiple users to record iPhone or iPad screen. When you produce app tutorials or gameplay videos, for example, screen recording is a great way to give viewers a sense of what your app or game is all about. Perhaps your iPhone is doing something odd and you need to take a video of this action to show to tech support. Or you just expect to capture some online videos playing on your iPhone and save them for playback offline.

Ever since iOS 11, you are able to record your iPhone screen with the native screen recorder feature. In this tutorial, we explain how to record a video of what is occurring on your iPhone or iPad screen so you can save or share it.

iPhone Screen Recorder
iPhone Screen Recorders Supported Platform Ease of Use Recording Quality DRM Pass Simultaneous Audio Capture Is it Stable During Recordings Pricing
Built-in Screen Recorder iOS Easy 1080p Not Support Support Support Free
AnyMP4 Screen Recorder Windows, macOS Easy 4K 1080p Support Support Support Free - $12.45/month
DU Recorder iOS Intermediate 720p Not Support Support Not Support Free
TechSmith Capture iOS Intermediate 1080p Not Support Support Support Free
Web Recorder iOS Easy 720p Not Support Support Not Support Free
Go Record iOS Intermediate 720p Not Support Support Support Free
Screen Recorder + iOS Intermediate 720p Not Support Support Not Support Free
Display - Screen Recorder iOS Easy 720p Not Support Support Not Support Free
QuickTime iOS Easy 720p Not Support Support Support Free

Part 1. How to Record Screen on iOS 11 or later

Screen recording on iPhone or iPad is easier than ever before if you have updated your handset to iOS 11 or later. As mentioned previously, Apple has realized such need and introduced a screen recorder feature into the latest iOS versions. You can follow the steps below to set up and use it simply.

iPhone models and systems that support screen recording:

iOS System iOS 11 to iOS 17
iPhone 5s to iPhone 7 Phone 5s to iPhone 7 didn't have that in the original system. It must be updated to iOS 11 to use the screen recording function.
iPhone 8 and later versions. Starting with the iPhone 8, phones ship with iOS 11 pre-installed, allowing you to use the screen recording feature right out of the box.

How to Set up Screen Recording on iOS 11 and Later

Record Screen on iOS 11

1. Open the Settings app from your home screen, tap on your name, and head to Control Center.

2. If the Screen Recording option is not in the Include area, find it in the More Controls section and tap the Plus icon. This feature is enabled on iPhone.

How to Record Screen on iPhone

Record iPhone X

1. Go to the screen on your iPhone that you expect to capture.

2. Swipe down from the top right corner to bring out Control Center. For iPhone 8/7/6 or earlier, swipe upward from the bottom. Find the iPhone screen recording feature and tap it.

3. After the three-second countdown, everything on your screen will be captured. When recording, the feature will turn to a red bar at the top of the screen or a red blob in the status bar.

4. To end up the recording, tap the red bar or blob, and hit the button to stop it. If you cannot get the quick access of screen recording feature, just stop it in Control Center.

How to Record External Sound on iPhone

1. Swipe down on your iPhone screen to open your Control Center. To older iPhone models of 8/7/6 or earlier, swipe upward from the bottom. Then find the Screen Recorder button and Long-press it, instead of tapping.

iPhone Tap Hold Recording

2. Unlike the basic Screen Recording feature above, long-pressing the Screen Record button on your Control Center will record both your screen and the microphone audio from your device.

3. To stop the recording process, tap the red bar or blob, and click on the button to stop it. If you cannot get quick access to the screen recording feature, just stop it in Control Center.

iPhone Stop Recording

Fortunately, capturing external audio during screen recordings on iPhone only requires one very simple change of holding the record button.

To easily locate where your recordings are, simply go to your Photos app and check the Recent or the Screen Recordings album. These recordings are saved in MOV format by default.

Note
  • Your iPhone X screen recordings will be stored in your Photos app. You can view and edit it on your device.

Part 2. How to Record iPhone Screen with Third-party Apps

Unfortunately, the screen recording feature is only available to iPhone and iPad running iOS 11 and later. It means that you have to use a third-party screen recorder app if you are still using old versions of iOS. Here we identify the best iPhone screen recorder apps.

Top 1: DU Recorder

DU Recorder
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/du-recorder-screen-recorder/id1295647284

Key features

  • 1. Capture everything on your screen as well as your face.
  • 2. Set your livestream to public or private to protect privacy.
  • 3. Let you decide the resolution and more of screen captures.
  • 4. Include several video editing tools, such as trim, text, etc.

How to record screen on iPhone

1. Install the iPhone screen recorder. It is free to get in App Store.

2. When you go to the screen you want to record, open your Control Center, tap the Record button, and choose DU Recorder to start it.

3. Next, tap the Stop Recording button to save the screen recording.

Note
  • You can set resolution, video quality, and more in the app. If you want to remove watermark from your recording, you have to upgrade to premium.

Top 2: TechSmith Capture

TechSmith Capture

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/techsmith-capture/id1266321056

Key features

  • 1. Quickly record gameplay or app demo videos on iPhone or iPad.
  • 2. Store your screen recordings in library.
  • 3. Transfer screen captures to TechSmith Camtasia for editing further.
  • 4. Compatible with a wide range of iPhone and iPad.

How to capture screen on iPhone 7

1. Make sure to install and set up the iPhone screen recorder to your handset.

2. Locate the screen you intend to capture, and start the recorder from Control Center.

3. Tap the round icon at the top of the screen when the recording finishes. Then preview the recording and tap Share to export it as you wish.

Top 3: Web Recorder

Web Recorder

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/web-recorder-browser-capture/id1130835003

Key features

  • 1. One tap to record gameplay or online video on iPhone.
  • 2. Quickly access specific sites by Bookmarks and Favorites.
  • 3. Save the screen recordings automatically and share them to social media.
  • 4. Available to iPhone and iPad running iOS 8.0 and later.

How to make a screen recording on iPhone 6

1. Run the screen recorder for iOS. It is free to download from App Store.

2. Then access the website that you want to capture, such as a game website. Play the game and tap the Record button at the bottom.

3. When you are done, tap the Stop button. Then decide to save video to your iPhone, share it via email, message or upload to Facebook.

Top 4: Go Record

Go Record

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/go-record-screen-recorder/id1345200849

Key features

  • 1. Record iPhone or iPad screen with all apps and games.
  • 2. Add facecam on screen recordings.
  • 3. Use your microphone to add your commentary to screen captures.
  • 4. Include several video editing tools.

How to record your iPad screen

1. Open the online video, app or game you wish to capture. Then select Go Record from Control Center > Screen Recording.

2. Tap Start Recording to initiate screen record on iPad running iOS 11 or above.

3. When you want to end the recording, tap the Stop icon. Then tap Edit to bring the recording to editor screen. If you are satisfied, tap Share icon and select your desired destination.

Top 5: Screen Recorder +

Screen Recorder +

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/screen-recorder/id1463179214

Key features

  • 1. Capture your favorite game, app, online videos and more.
  • 2. Add facecam on your recordings to make video reactions.
  • 3. Support high quality recordings.
  • 4. Share iOS screen captures to YouTube, Facebook, and more.

How to capture screen on iPhone 8

1. When you reach the screen you wish to record, head to Control Center > Screen Recording and select RECGO.

2. Tap the record icon to start shooting everything on screen and your actions. When the game or video is complete, tap stop icon.

3. Then you can explore Face Cam, and video editing features in this iPhone screen recorder app.

Top 6: Display - Screen Recorder

Display - Screen Recorder

Key features

  • 1. Record full screen on your iPhone or iPad.
  • 2. Trim and remove unwanted frames from your recordings.
  • 3. Manage and share iOS screen captures simply.
  • 4. Upgrade to premium version to remove ads.

How to record screen on iPhone

1. Open the app or game you want to record, and head to Control Center > Screen Recording and select Display Recorder.

2. When it is complete, tap the Stop icon to save the recording.

3. If you want to edit a recording, select it and tap Edit. Or tap Share to send it via email, message and more.

More screen recorders for iPhone, you can check it here.

Part 3. Record iPhone Screen on Mac

How to Record iPhone Screen on Mac with QuickTime

Some iPhone users are also using Mac computers. It is well-known that the built-in media player, QuickTime Player has the capacity to record screen of your computer. It is also an iPhone and iPad screen recorder. All your need is:

  • • An iPhone or iPad running iOS 8 or above.
  • • A Mac computer running OX Yosemite and later.
  • • The Lightning cable came with your iOS device.

Recording iPhone screen on Mac does not require jailbreak, third-party apps or extra hardware.

1. Connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer with the Lightning cable. This can be done for all iPhone models that support the Lightning connector, including iPhone 5 and later. All iPad models that support the Lightning connector or USB-C connector, including iPad Air, iPad Pro, and standard iPad.

2. Run your QuickTime Player and click File > New Movie Recording to open the iPhone screen recorder window.

QuickTime

3. Click and expand the Downward button next to the Record icon, and select your iPhone or iPad under the Camera section. To capture the sound on your iOS device, select it under Microphone area too. Plus, select your favorite quality.

QuickTime iPhone

4. Click the Record button on the iPhone screen recorder and do what you want to record on your iPhone.

5. Once it is done, click the Stop Recording button and save the video recording to your hard drive.

More Options to Record iPhone Screen on Mac

In addition to QuickTime Player, there are some third-party apps allow you to produce iPhone screen recordings on Mac wirelessly.

Top 1: Reflector 2

Reflector 2

Key features

  • 1. Record iPhone screen on Mac via AirPlay.
  • 2. Real time mirror iPhone screen without lagging.
  • 3. Connect more than one iOS devices.
  • 4. Offer advanced security protections.

Top 2: AirServer

AirServer

Key features

  • 1. Capture your iPad or iPhone screen on large screen.
  • 2. Wirelessly mirror your iOS screen to Mac with AirPlay.
  • 3. Adjust contrast, brightness, hue and more options of your recordings.
  • 4. Decide to add your voice over iPhone screen record or not.

Top 3: Lonely Screen

Lonely Screen

Key features

  • 1. AirPlay mirror your iPhone or iPad screen to Mac.
  • 2. One-click to record your iPhone screen on computer.
  • 3. Save iPhone screen recordings to designated folder automatically.
  • 4. Available to Windows 10/8/7 and Mac OS X/11/12.

Part 4. Record iPhone Screen on PC on Windows

Since the biggest concern when capturing iPhone screen recordings is quality, using a desktop-based option that offers screen mirroring and external recording is the best option. In this case, we highly recommend AnyMP4 Screen Recorder and its high-quality Phone Recorder mode.

Unlike the previous options, the Phone Recorder mode of AnyMP4 Screen Recorder is designed to mirror your iPhone display and then record it through your computer’s screen. This results in a higher quality video and also has less resource consumption for your device.

It is also useful since external recording will be able to bypass app security, such as privacy black screens on several apps. To learn how to make your recordings easier and of higher quality, make sure to read our guide below.

Recommendation

  • 1. Record iPhone screen on PC with a single click.
  • 2. Use hardware acceleration to improve the performance.
  • 3. Preview iPhone screen recordings before exporting.
  • 4. Export screen captures in a wide range of output formats.

All in all, it is the best option to make iPhone screen recordings on PC.

Free Download For Windows

Secure Download

Free Download For macOS

Secure Download

1. Open AnyMP4 Screen Recorder and then select the recording mode menu, then choose the Phone Recorder mode.

Choose Phone Recorder

Then, choose iOS Recorder in the device type selector.

2. Make sure that your iPhone and your computer are connected to the same WiFi network. Then, in the setup menu of AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate, select Screen Mirroring and then follow the instructions.

Choose Screen Mirroring

3. Once your iPhone is mirrored on AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate, you can now edit the recording settings from Resolution, Recording Content, and Output Resolution. Finally, click on Record to begin recording your mirrored iPhone screen.

Output Resolution

To stop recording, click Stop on AnyMP4 Screen Recorder.

Click Stop Button

Since iPhone recordings on AnyMP4 Screen Recorder is done externally, you will be able to ensure that your recording process will be smooth, high-quality, and reliable. This makes the tool the best choice for recording iPhone displays.

Part 5. FAQs About Recording iPhone Screens

Why does my recording have a black screen?

Black screens during iPhone recording occur due to DRM issues. This is present for apps with sensitive information. The black screens are applied for better security.

Does AirPlay mirroring cause lag when recording gameplay?

Yes, it does. Mirroring will definitely affect phone performance. However, regular activities such as browsing and watching videos will not be affected.

Can I record iPhone calls using the built-in screen recorder?

Yes, you can. However, you need to ask the caller for permission first. This is very vital for privacy concerns.

How do I crop the mirrored iPhone screen on my PC? (AnyMP4 recording area settings)

There are two options on AnyMP4 Screen Recorder. You can use the built-in video editing tools. Alternatively, you can also set a recorded area before the recording starts.

Is recording iPhone screen hard to do?

No, it is not. There are multiple options to capture iPhone screens. You can use built-in tools, third-party apps, or desktop recorders.

Conclusion

This tutorial has discussed how to make screen recordings on iPhone and iPad. The convenient way to do it is the native Screen Recording feature if you are using iOS 11 or above. When it comes to old iPhone devices, you have to try the third-party screen recorder apps. Sometimes, your computer can provide much help to record the iPhone screen. Mac users, for example, can use the screen recording feature in QuickTime Player to capture everything on your iPhone. For PC, AnyMP4 Screen Recorder is the best option to produce HD iPhone screen captures. Any questions? Please leave a message below.

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author Updated by Alice Thorne to Record Video
February 25, 2026 07:00

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